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New Film Festival: Birmingham Anime Film Festival 2023
Via Mat for Geeky Brummie
Birmingham Anime Film Festival (BAFF) is a brand new week-long film festival celebrating anime in cinema and is launching in Birmingham this autumn. The festival will run from Friday 29th September to Thursday 5th October 2023 featuring screenings at The Mockingbird Cinema, in Digbeth and the Midlands Art Centre (MAC) in Edgbaston.
Film fans will be able to immerse themselves in a collection of over twenty of the greatest and most influential films in anime cinematic history – with content for all ages. Highlights include Studio Ghibli’s heartfelt 2004 visual treat Howl’s Moving Castle to Satoshi Kon’s iconic 1997 psychological thriller Perfect Blue; and Makoto Shinkai 2016 modern classic Your Name. The festival teases several surprises alongside its bumper programme of cult classics for a wide variety of films from family-friendly to the darker side of anime.
Birmingham Anime Film Festival will take place in two of the city’s most iconic venues. Mockingbird Cinema provides film fans with a unique cinematic experience, nestled within the creative hub of Digbeth’s Custard Factory and surrounded by a host of independent food and drink eateries.
Similarly, Midlands Art Centre (MAC) is one of the most exciting cultural venues in the UK. It boasts a host of arts and cultural activities including galleries, exhibitions, theatre and, of course, cinema. Highlights include:
The Darker Side of Anime (Friday 29th September and Wednesday 4th October)
Midlands Arts Centre, Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham, B12 9QH
The Darker Side of Anime will be on display at MAC with screenings of the masterful Perfect Blue, on Friday 29th September, from late anime auteur Satoshi Kon. This iconic psychological thriller has frequently been hailed as one of the most influential animated films of all time.
Wednesday 4th October, brings Belladonna of Sadness to the MAC, in its 50th anniversary, one of the most groundbreaking classics—a psychedelic, feverish tale of revenge, inspired by the tale of Jeanne De Arc. A jazzy rock score by composer Masahiko Seitoh complements the dreamlike watercolour animation.
Makoto Shinkai Marathon (Saturday 30th September)
Mockingbird Cinema, Gibb Street, Birmingham B9 4AA
The first of two family-friendly magical movie marathons. The first celebrates the works of Makoto Shinkai from ‘The Place Promised in our Early Days all the way through to Susume.
Studio Ghibli Marathon (Sunday 1st October)
Midlands Arts Centre, Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham, B12 9QH then Mockingbird Cinema, Gibb Street, Birmingham B9 4AA
All things Studio Ghibli with our second marathon with all-time favourites. Kicking off the day will be Colour Box at the MAC showing the classic tale of Arriety, followed by Kiki’s Delivery Service, Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away at The Mockingbird. Both the art style of whimsical storytelling from both Shinkai and Miyazaki is a guaranteed delight for everyone.
The Night is Short, Walk on Girl (Wednesday 4th October)
Mockingbird Cinema, Gibb Street, Birmingham B9 4AA
At The Mockingbird on Wednesday 4th October, a screening of The Night is Short, Walk on Girl. A surreal comedy about a girls’ long night out on the town, with encounters with increasingly eccentric characters.
Secret Screening (Thursday 5th October)
Mockingbird Cinema, Gibb Street, Birmingham B9 4AA
Thursday brings a secret screening in partnership with Worlds Apart, who will have a pop-up Manga Shop at The Mockingbird Cinema throughout the festival week.
The festival is organised by The Mockingbird Cinema and Café in partnership with Geeky Brummie, Midlands Arts Centre (MAC) and Flatpack Festival, sponsored by AllTheAnime.
Lee Nabbs, Owner, The Mockingbird Cinema says:
The Mockingbird is renowned for its mix of new releases, cult, and eclectic films. Regular Anime screenings have always been part of our scheduling mix and we’re proud to launch Birmingham Anime Film Festival to show our love for the genre and bring together fans from far and wide, to show the breadth and depth of this special part of cinema.
David Baldwin, Producer – Cinema and Screen, Midlands Art Centre says:
The world of anime is no longer some niche genre. It’s a global phenomenon that has become a major part of cinema, streaming, toys and conventions.
MAC is very pleased to be a part of Birmingham’s first official anime festival, with a focus on some of the more transgressive titles from across the history of anime, including classic works from Satoshi Kon and Eiichi Yamamoto.”
Ryan Parish, Founder of Geeky Brummie says:
Birmingham is a city filled to the brim with a rich tapestry of geek culture. From comic books, board games and video games, to esports, music and film – there are safe and welcoming spaces and communities all over the city. Anime and manga are a big part of this landscape, with the success of Birmingham Comicon and Animecon UK, alongside shops like Tokyo Toys.
Birmingham Anime Festival is a celebration of this critically important and influential genre of cinema, while also doing it in a way that is distinctly Brummie.”
Anna Francis, Theatrical Product Manager, Anime Limited:
We are thrilled to be working with Birmingham Anime Festival. It’s a very important mission for us to make anime widely accessible in the UK and this is a perfect opportunity for everyone to see some incredible animation from Japan as part of a local festival.
The full schedule, including films such as Millennium Actress, Mirai, The First Slam Dunk and The Deer King, is available on the BAFF website: baff.uk Tickets are priced per film and can be purchased on the venue’s website: The Mockingbird Cinema and Café here: mockingbirdcinema.com and Midlands Art Centre (MAC) here: macbirmingham.co.uk/whats-on
Birmingham Anime Film Festival runs from 29th September to 5th October 2023. Find out more at: baff.uk.
